Next up: The Best Blu-ray Player
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
![Avatar (Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live) [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/avatar3discextendededit.jpg "Avatar (Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live) [Blu-ray] (2009)"){kind=avatar}
Nothing beats the heavyweight champ. The biggest film of the year or possibly even of all time. James Cameron’s Avatar makes its triumphant return to Blu-ray in a 3-disc set that should find its way under every Blu-ray fan’s Christmas tree this year.
Not only is this Extended Collector’s Edition packed to the gills with the deleted scenes and extras you’ve been waiting the year to see but it also features three cuts of the award winning film, all demo-disc worthy. With the technical quality of the video and audio presentation off the charts (and surprisingly equal to the stand alone disc available earlier this year) this Blu-ray set has claimed the crown of high-def title to beat! Bring on the challengers!!
READ MORE: Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of November 16 – AVATAR EXTENDED COLLECTOR’S EDITION
Christopher Nolan‘s Inception might have been my favourite Hollywood film of 2010. I’m fully aware of all the character deficiencies and possible plot holes in the script but I don’t care. The film managed an incredible feat, as far as I’m concerned and spent the first three-quarters of the narrative setting it up – a storytelling gag wherein a group of characters live and interact at different speeds within different dream states. It’s a fantastic narrative gymnastic feat that has never been attempted before and I think it succeeds in a marvelous way. Also, I can’t stop listening to Hans Zimmer‘s incredible score for the film. Seriously. Every time I put my iPod on it’s Inception. I think it might be bordering on unhealthy.
READ MORE: Inception Blu-ray officially announced and detailed
![Sherlock Holmes [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51z1CphqWEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Sherlock Holmes [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I skipped this one in the theatres. I love, love, love Sherlock Holmes stories and had no desire to see Guy Richie butcher the character with his ‘enslickened‘ boy-with-guns style, so I just avoided the film all together. I honestly couldn’t have been more wrong about it. It’s so good, from top to bottom! I hate to say it but it works on almost every level – it’s well designed, well performed and, as much as it pains me to admit, it was quite well directed. And the Blu-ray disc is spectacular to boot, replete with a killer transfer and some incredible special features.
READ MORE: Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Disc Review
![An Education [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51Fsgwzm0xL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "An Education [Blu-ray] (2009)")
The coming-of-age story of An Education, young girl being wooed by older man, is fairly well worn but the wonderful performances here in this film really make it shine. Carey Mulligan emerges as the breakout star, practically painting herself as this generation’s Audrey Hepburn. Great film. Great Blu-ray disc.
Okay, honestly, this Karate Kid remake is quite great. That’s right. It’s not just good. It’s great. Nevermind that it’s more Kung Fu now than Karate, with the location of the film transplanted from the California, USA of the original 1984 classic film to China 2010. And nevermind that aged Japanese sensei Mr. Miyagi has been replaced by Jackie Chan‘s far more genuinely skilled, and far more Chinese Mr. Han. This is a faithful representation of the tone and themes of the original with a whole new modern spirit and vastly improved photography and musical score. The Blu-ray disc is damn-near flawless, sporting one of the best transfers we’ve seen all year. The Karate Kid is a winner on Blu-ray!
![A Prophet [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51vDe0g8OXL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "A Prophet [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Combine the HBO prison drama OZ with a touch of the Godfather and you’ve got a glimpse of where Jacques Audiard‘s A Prophet will lead you. It feels epic at its monster 149-minute run-time but honestly doesn’t waste a minute of screen time. This is two-and-a-half very tense hours that will fly right by. One of the best films of 2009 and highly recommended on Blu-ray!
![The White Ribbon [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51S9nqNiW_L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The White Ribbon [Blu-ray] (2009)")
If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. And if you can’t handle being disturbed and unsettled by a film, you’d best avoid Michael Haneke‘s latest unflinching gaze into the darkest heart of mankind, The White Ribbon. Great, ghostly black and white visuals add the sinister tale a layer of subtle depth. Highly recommended for those who can handle it.
READ MORE: The White Ribbon Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Secret in Their Eyes [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51rr5eQrpvL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Secret in Their Eyes [Blu-ray] (2010)")
The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) is, without question one of the finest films of the last year and long overdue for a domestic Blu-ray release. In direct competition with Michael Haneke‘s The White Ribbon for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film this past year, Secret edged out the popular pick to take the prize. And it deserves it.
Highly recommended!
Roman Polanski‘s The Ghost Writer is one of the best films I’ve seen all year and one of the director’s absolute best in decades. It’s got a great script by Robert Harris (adapting his novel of the same name) with some incredible performances by some of my favourite actors (I’ll watch pretty much anything starring Ewan McGregor.) Highly Recommended.
READ MORE: Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of August 3 – THE GHOST WRITER
![Cemetery Junction [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qwdfd3_L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Cemetery Junction [Blu-ray] (2010)")
I fully understand that this won’t be a very popular sentiment, but Cemetery Junction is one hell of a great little film. One of the most enjoyable I’ve watched all year, in fact! It’s a light, comedy-infused drama from the brilliant minds of The Office creative team of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (who both wrote and directed the film!), both of whom turn up on screen in smaller yet brilliant roles. Aside from being a fantastic film about growing up in 1970s England, the Blu-ray is so packed full of amazing bonus features, you’ll feel like you’re getting two entire, extremely entertaining packages for one price!
![Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/519_rinkGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Red Cliff International Version - Part I & Part II [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Red Cliff is, without question, a return to form for director John Woo. This is the film we’ve been desperate to see from him for years now. There are two versions on the market – the extended version, consisting of both Parts 1 and 2 of the film and the truncated, edited down version that cuts them both into one, much shorter film. Take my advice and get yourself or your loved one the Extended Edition. You’ll thank me later!
READ MORE: Red Cliff: Extended Edition Blu-ray Disc Review
![Micmacs [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/516oviU28uL._SL500_AA300_1.jpg "Micmacs [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet can do no wrong in my eyes. The French auteur’s latest opus of quirk and style, Micmacs, might not be able to compete with his best work ever (Amelie!) but that doesn’t keep it from being one of the best films out on Blu this year.
READ MORE: Micmacs Blu-ray Disc Review
![Shutter Island [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51SW5fTtmjL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Shutter Island [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I really, really wish that I loved Shutter Island a lot more than I did. I mean, it’s a great looking film with some amazing performances and a killer vibe but ultimately it just plays its hand way too early and too fiercely to be as effective as I would like it to be. Nevertheless, even the worst Martin Scorsese film is a work of genius and worthy of checking out. And this is far from the worst Scorsese film.
The Blu-ray from Paramount looks and sounds like a million bucks. Sadly, it’s damn light on special features. But if this is a flik you love and you’re not bothered by the lack of extras you could find a brand new demo disc with this one!
READ MORE: Paramount brings Scorsese’s Shutter Island to Blu-ray in June
![The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus [Blu-ray] (2008)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61d0RTrfJcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus [Blu-ray] (2008)")
If you’ve read this blog in the past, you know that I’m an unabashed Terry Gilliam fan. And while there are a whole host of his films that just plain don’t work for me, I can’t count the The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus among them. It’s not his best flik, by far, but it manages to incorporate so many themes and images from his past work that I couldn’t help but feel warmly toward it. It’s good stuff.
READ MORE: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Blu-ray Disc Review
![Predators ( + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51r7hIj3AhL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Predators ( + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] (2010)")
Predators wasn’t my favourite film of 2010 but it’s certainly one of the most fun, action packed Blu-ray discs to come out this year. The film can’t really measure up to the original but it’s paced with enough original ideas and call-backs to the 80s to make it feel worthy of its title. The film looks and sounds like a million bucks on Blu and is definitely worth a look.
READ MORE: Predators Blu-ray release date and details announced
![Zombieland [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51Jxr94RyL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Zombieland [Blu-ray] (2009)")
If you don’t like a zombie movie, we can’t be friends. Slap an “…of the Dead” suffix on just about any film title and I’m there! Whether it’s high-grade Hollywood fare or low-rent, B-movie imports made on a shoestring and shipped over from Italy, I’ll watch just about anything with a staggering, lurching undead brain-eater in it. Joining the ranks of the best zombie action captured on celluloid is Sony‘s Zombieland, a truly excellent adventure/teen-romance/zombie film captured on a truly excellent, feature packed Blu-ray!
READ MORE: Zombieland Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Damned United [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51MS4EhltgL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Damned United [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I can’t believe how much I really loved this movie. Like I said in my review, I loathe sports and I possess an even greater loathing for films about sports. The fact that I could enjoy it at all makes The Damned United a pretty special movie, in my books. But ultimately, it’s less about the game than it is about the rise and fall of football club manager, Brian Clough, played brilliantly here by Michael Sheen. Watch the film for his performance, if nothing else.
READ MORE: The Damned United Blu-ray Disc Review
![Moon [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51TrtY4gjpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Moon [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Moon is one of the best films of the year. And it’s also a really fine Blu-ray disc. Don’t just pick it up for the quirky sci-fi story or the brilliant performance by Sam Rockwell. Pick it up because its a great all-round debut from a fine filmmaker (I’m looking at you, Duncan Jones!) given a spectacular Blu-ray disc treatment courtesy of Sony.
![The Informant! [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51ebkz4rP1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Informant! [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I’m not one of those crazy Steven Soderbergh fans. I’m not one of those art-jerks who’ll drool over everything the man touches (I thought Full Frontal was absolute garbage) but everything he’s touched lately seems to me to be quite brilliant. That goes for Che and that certainly goes for his newest release, The Informant! (and yes, that exclamation mark is a part of the title.) It’s a cracking, fun little story, told with a ton of style, beautiful photography and the best Marvin Hamlisch score I’ve ever heard. And Matt Damon is not half bad in it either…
READ MORE: The Informant! Blu-ray Disc Review
![Broken Embraces [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51ZNwPDAqDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Broken Embraces [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I loved Broken Embraces. Not only does this look and sound fantastic on Blu but it’s a wonderful all-around film as well. As per his usual, Almodóvar delivers a rich, finely textured tale of damaged people and, once again, provides the lovely Penélope Cruz an opportunity to break our hearts. Wonderful all around!
READ MORE: Broken Embraces Blu-ray Disc Review
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
Related posts
]]>Next up: The Best New Blu-ray Discs of the Year!
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
![Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41834VKXGVL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]")
![Bigger Than Life (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1956)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51cAa1I_FL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Bigger Than Life (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1956)")
![Walkabout (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1971)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51RKGDAfHSL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Walkabout (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1971)")
![8 1/2 (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51CWz5hm4SL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "8 1/2 (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)")
![Stagecoach (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1939)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51BInBzJseL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Stagecoach (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1939)")
![M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1931)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41669DS7uoL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1931)")
![Black Narcissus (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1947)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51srot6tixL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Black Narcissus (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1947)")
![The Red Shoes (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1948)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41l5GUXqukL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The Red Shoes (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1948)")
![The Night of the Hunter (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51lO1qlOc_L._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The Night of the Hunter (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]")
![The Leopard (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/514Ytoo0bWL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The Leopard (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)")
![Modern Times (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1905)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41E7sf28t3L._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Modern Times (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1905)")
![Lola Montès (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1905)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51gctV0FKVL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Lola Montès (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1905)")
![Charade (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51Wu3oypL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Charade (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1963)")
![The Magician (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51J0euswfiL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The Magician (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]")
![Breathless (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1960)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/516yzywc3fL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Breathless (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1960)")
![Black Orpheus (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qu2L7RmDL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Black Orpheus (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]")
What can I say? I’m a massive, unadulterated fan of just about everything that comes out of The Criterion Collection. To me, the studio can do no wrong. I fork over a decent amount of my salary to them each and every year and 2010 has been no exception. Some of the most exciting titles to come out of Criterion are the older, more classic catalogue releases, quite often lovingly restored and always looking and sounding better than ever. The images above represent a handful of the classics Criterion published on Blu-ray this year. They all come highly recommended.
READ MORE:
- The Criterion Collection: Black Orpheus Blu-ray Disc Review
- Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of September 14 – BREATHLESS (À BOUT DE SOUFFLE)
- criterion.com
AMAZON: Click for price list
![The Complete Metropolis [Blu-ray] (1927)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51OJUddbiEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Complete Metropolis [Blu-ray] (1927)")
The Complete Metropolis is unquestionably one of the finest and most important Blu-ray releases of the year. This restoration, incorporating 25-minutes of newly discovered footage back into the film for the first time in decades, is absolutely stunning in high-def and is necessary viewing for every film fan. This disc receives our highest possible recommendation.
READ MORE: The Complete Metropolis Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Bridge on the River Kwai [Blu-ray] (1957)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51IEwqWdKlL.jpg "The Bridge on the River Kwai [Blu-ray] (1957)")
David Lean‘s Lawrence of Arabia might not be available on Blu yet but Sony has given us the next best thing in their brilliant new high-def transfer of The Bridge on the River Kwai. The boxed set contains a bunch of unnecessary collectibles, but the disc is to die for!
READ MORE: The Bridge on the River Kwai Blu-ray Disc Review
And speaking of Lean, his very fine and highly under-rated Doctor Zhivago was released on Blu-ray earlier this year in a nice, new digi-book edition from Warner. If the photography and the music don’t get you, Omar Sharif surely will. Purely briliant!
READ MORE: Doctor Zhivago: 45th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc Review
![King Kong [Blu-ray Book] (1933)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qECcjoaGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "King Kong [Blu-ray Book] (1933)")
Who doesn’t just absolutely love the original King Kong?! The Merian C. Cooper film has inspired a couple of remakes, tons of knock-offs and countless filmmakers over the years. And it’s never looked or sounded better on home video than on this gorgeous new Blu-ray edition from Warner. Highly recommended!
READ MORE: Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of September 28 – KING KONG
![Jason and the Argonauts [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51OCbTyx62L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Jason and the Argonauts [Blu-ray]")
And while we’re on the subject of brilliant films made with stop-motion animation, don’t miss out on the incredible Blu-ray edition of Ray Harryhausen‘s Jason and the Argonauts! I still can’t get over what a great job Sony did restoring and transferring this to Blu. You have to see it to believe it!
READ MORE: Jason and the Argonauts Blu-ray Disc Review
As I stated in my review of the A Star is Born Blu-ray, I really hate musicals. But I’m always willing to make an exception for a well made film presented in a pretty great Blu-ray edition. This is classic Judy Garland and James Mason in a classic George Cukor film. Don’t miss this WHV digi-book edition of the Blu-ray!
READ MORE: A Star is Born Blu-ray Disc Review
![Mutiny on the Bounty [Blu-ray Book] (1935)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/517AJYCWNVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Mutiny on the Bounty [Blu-ray Book] (1935)")
There aren’t a whole lot of special features on this new Blu-ray edition of the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty but the film itself has never looked or sounded better on home video. This isn’t a flawless restoration here but it’s a great package, including a hardcover digibook, that most collectors and fans will be satisfied with.
![The African Queen [Blu-ray] (1952)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61cRzbpdD5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The African Queen [Blu-ray] (1952)")
This gorgeous restoration has been a long time in coming! We film fans have been waiting to get our grubby mitts on a cleaned up, digital copy of The African Queen for ages. It’s one of those few titles that didn’t appear on DVD at all until just this year, when it also saw release on Blu-ray. John Huston‘s classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn has never looked or sounded better and is a must for all film fans.
READ MORE: Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of March 23 – THE AFRICAN QUEEN
![The Treasure of the Sierra Madre [Blu-ray] (1948)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51QFcuXTSTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre [Blu-ray] (1948)")
![The Maltese Falcon [Blu-ray] (1941)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41oeG_GGAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Maltese Falcon [Blu-ray] (1941)")
Speaking of Bogey and Huston, Warner recently hit us with amazing Blu-ray editions of a couple of their finest collaborations – The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon! Both look fantastic, considering their ages, with the transfer for Treasure often quite breathtaking. The discs both contain a myriad of special features, which you can read about here.
![The Black Pirate [Blu-ray] (1926)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51vj5yjckL._SL500_AA300_1.jpg "The Black Pirate [Blu-ray] (1926)")
Kino has been absolutely killing it this year with silent film releases on Blu-ray! Aside from their killer high-def version of Metropolis, I think my favourite title has to have been Douglas Fairbanks‘ The Black Pirate. I never thought a two-strip Technicolor film of this age could look this good in high-def! Amazing!
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM KINO:
![Sherlock Jr. / Three Ages [Blu-ray] (1924)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51ditktfR4L._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Sherlock Jr. / Three Ages [Blu-ray] (1924)")
![Steamboat Bill, Jr. [Blu-ray] (1928)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51d98v45EgL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Steamboat Bill, Jr. [Blu-ray] (1928)")
![The General [Blu-ray] (1926)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/515Epn8I_8L._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The General [Blu-ray] (1926)")
![Battleship Potemkin [Blu-ray] (1925)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61KwHK2c8kL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Battleship Potemkin [Blu-ray] (1925)")
![True Grit [Blu-ray] (1969)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51_87TCfduL._SL500_AA300_1.jpg "True Grit [Blu-ray] (1969)")
Nuts to the Coen brothers! This here original version of True Grit is the real deal. This classic John Wayne film co-starring the likes of a very young Dennis Hopper and Robert Duvall, is pretty stunning here in its new Blu-ray incarnation. The special features are all carried over from the previously issued DVD but hold up well.
CLASSICS ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:
![Ocean's 11 (50th Anniversary) [Blu-ray] (1960)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/516eElw26DL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Ocean's 11 (50th Anniversary) [Blu-ray] (1960)")
![Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1960)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51g14Rt579L._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1960)")
![White Christmas (Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1954)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51fNSps5UuL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "White Christmas (Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1954)")
![What's Up Doc? [Blu-ray] (1972)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qVJESjpJL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "What's Up Doc? [Blu-ray] (1972)")
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
Related posts
]]>Next up: Classics on Blu-ray
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
Animation just doesn’t get any better than the work of Hayao Miyazaki. His latest film, Ponyo is also his first on Blu-ray. This is not only a perfect gift for kids and animation fans but also for film fans of all ages.
Highest possible recommendation!!
READ MORE: Ponyo Blu-ray Disc Review
I reviewed the Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray way back in March and, let me tell you, I’m still surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I’m a fan of Wes Anderson but didn’t think I’d care for this stop-motion animation take on the classic Roald Dahl tale. What a pleasant surprise! It’s a great film with a stellar presentation on Blu-ray disc.
READ MORE: Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-ray Disc Review
![Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/510oJQfnYSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone [Blu-ray] (2010)")
Neon Genesis Evangelion on Blu-ray. It’s been the fever dream of every anime fanboy with a big HD screen. And FUNimation delivered this past March with the first installment of the re-imagining/re-animated edition of the famed series, Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone, looking and sounding like a million bucks on Blu. This is a must-have disc for all anime and giant-robot fans.
Highly recommended!!
READ MORE: Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone Blu-ray Disc Review
I’m still hoping to get my hands on a copy of The Secret of Kells Blu-ray disc (hint hint!) but understand that it’s stellar in just about every possible way. The film itself is one of the best animated films to be released in years and worth your every attention. If the Blu-ray lives up to its reputation of having a killer transfer and great audio, this one could end up with a special place on my Blu-ray “shelf-of-honour“.
READ MORE: Oscar nominated animated film The Secret of Kells coming to Blu-ray
Disney is really killing it with the Blu-ray releases of their classic catalogue titles. And Beauty and the Beast is one of the most significant, as it truly ushered in the modern renaissance of the studio’s 2D animated offerings. The film looks unbelievably great on Blu-ray and features tons of amazing special features. Again, another pick that’ll please animation AND film fans alike.
READ MORE: Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition Blu-ray Disc Review
![How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon Double Pack) [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61JkgtZqhXL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon Double Pack) [Blu-ray] (2010)")
I’m really steamed that I missed out How to Train Your Dragon. By all accounts, this is one of the best animated films to come out in the past number of years and the finest work of Dreamworks animations studios since the original Shrek. I just might have to grab a copy of the Blu-ray disc for my niece and nephew for Christmas, just so that I can finally get to see it myself!
![Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61JSnkRFTGL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam [Blu-ray]")
![Superman/Batman: Apocalypse [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61EELay2dpL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse [Blu-ray]")
![Batman: Under the Red Hood [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51dWJb8XIL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Batman: Under the Red Hood [Blu-ray]")
![Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/519lDU6RrL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths [Blu-ray]")
Warner Home Video and DC Comics continued their onslaught of animated superhero adaptations throughout the year, releasing four new Blu-ray discs in 2010, culminating with the DC Showcase collection of exceptional short films this past month. My favourite disc of the lot (though I enjoyed them all) is the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths disc, which features a fun dimension-hopping story, great character designs and a slate of decent special features. But they’re all highly recommended for fans of the comics.
READ MORE:
- Batman: Under the Red Hood Blu-ray Disc Review
- Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray Disc Review
- Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Blu-ray Disc Review
AMAZON: $18.99, $20.99, $10.99, $9.99
![Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qfw2wrR9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs doesn’t look like a whole hell of a lot but it’s one of my girlfriend’s favourite films of the entire year (and I thought it was pretty all right too!) Released way back of the beginning of January the title is now available in a Blu-ray 3D edition as well as the standard, old Blu-ray combo pack.
READ MORE: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Blu-ray Disc Review
As I said before, Disney is on a roll with its Blu-ray releases of catalogue animation titles. Fantasia and its sister film, Fantasia 2000 both look and sound stellar in high-def. It’s unfortunate that most of the old DVD special features have been relegated to an online BD-Live archive, providing the sole option of streaming the content to your screen, as opposed to putting it on a local disc. Don’t let this single shortcoming keep you from adding this exceptional presentation of a classic film to your collection. Recommended!
READ MORE: Fantasia / Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray Disc Review
![Eden of the East: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/514NgCPs4tL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Eden of the East: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]")
![Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 1 [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51jLiYQ4XSL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 1 [Blu-ray]")
![Ouran High School Host Club: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51QWBwse5CL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Ouran High School Host Club: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] (2010)")
![Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One, Part One [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51v8OtvE0CL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One, Part One [Blu-ray]")
FUNimation has been releasing some great anime series on Blu-ray this year. Not all of them were created in HD, so the studio has been tirelessly improving their up-conversion process (taking the standard definition material and turning it into HD goodness!) to provide the best looking presentation possible. And you know, they’re doing a bang up job. The titles above are among my favourite released this year, with Eden of the East being one of the best looking, best written, most compelling animated series I’ve seen in an age. It especially comes highly recommended!
READ MORE:
- Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of May 18 – DRAGONBALL Z KAI: PART ONE
- Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of May 25 – FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD PART 1
- Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 19 – Eden of the East: The Complete Series
AMAZON: $37.99, $19.99, $69.98, $19.99
![Laugh It Up Fuzzball: The Family Guy Trilogy (It's A Trap / Something Something Something Dark Side / Blue Harvest) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51UCFB_dWZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Laugh It Up Fuzzball: The Family Guy Trilogy (It's A Trap / Something Something Something Dark Side / Blue Harvest) [Blu-ray]")
I’m not a big fan of the Family Guy but I kinda get how their Star Wars spoof episodes are so popular. Anyway, all three shows will be available for the first time in this brand new Blu-ray boxed set on December 21st.
Far from Disney’s absolute best animated film but a decent return to form as the studio’s first hand-drawn effort in years, The Princess and the Frog is a great choice for any young girl who loves a musical rags-to-princess story.
READ MORE: The Princess and the Frog Blu-ray Disc Review
And while we’re on the subject of Disney and the films that little girl’s might like, it’s hard to beat the revisionist (it’s hard to believe this is the same character from J.M. Barrie‘s Peter Pan!) direct-to-video Tinkerbell series. These things have been consistently entertaining and this years’ entry, The Great Fairy Rescue is no exception.
READ MORE: Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue Blu-ray Disc Review
ANIMATION ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:
![Rock & Rule (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1983)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51igYAYKSL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Rock & Rule (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1983)")
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
Related posts
]]>Tomorrow: Animation on Blu-ray
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
![Deadwood: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51ggmWdFSdL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Deadwood: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]")
I hope you’ve been working out because HBO’s 13-disc Deadwood: The Complete Series Blu-ray boxed set is a seriously weighty affair. This is one solid brick of high-def western goodness! The discs, which feature all 36-episodes from the series’ three seasons as well as gobs of special features, are housed within the pages of a gorgeous, solid hardcover book – much the same as last years’ Rome: The Complete Series set. The packaging is honestly a beautiful thing to behold, providing a slipcase for the book and all of the discs to rest in. Along with stunning video transfers, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks that border on perfection and all of the special features from the previously issued DVD sets (17 audio commentaries and over 6-hours of HD docs and featurettes), you’ll be hard pressed to find anything to dislike about this amazing Blu-ray boxed set. Unless, of course, you have an aversion to foul-mouthed (VERY foul) cowboys.
READ MORE: HBO’s Deadwood: The Complete Series Blu-ray officially announced and detailed
![The Pacific (HBO Miniseries) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qz4jKQtsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Pacific (HBO Miniseries) [Blu-ray]")
Following their hit WW II miniseries Band of Brothers, HBO brings us a kind-of sequel in The Pacific – a 10-part look at the allies’ struggles against axis powers in the far east. Producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg do their best to live up to Brothers‘ epic, emotional narrative and, for the most part succeed. The Pacific isn’t quite as engaging but proves to be equally cinematic and equally as memorable. The Blu-ray disc set consists of 5 discs in digibook packaging, housed in a tin case (almost exactly matching the Band of Brothers Blu-ray set, but a touch thinnner.) The series looks and sounds spectacular and features a great selection of quality of extras – “Enhanced Viewing Experience” picture-in-picture and “Field Guide” on all episodes as well as over an hour of docs and featurettes.
READ MORE: HBO The Pacific Blu-ray set announced and detailed
![Lost: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/Lost.jpg "Lost: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]")
Ah, Lost. It’s been over half a year since the groundbreaking series came to an end and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it as a whole. I mean, it had it’s high points (see my review of the Season 5 Blu-ray boxed set) and it’s dreadfully low points (remember Season 2?) But no matter how you feel about the series, there’s no denying it was infectious and quite memorable. Another point you can take to the bank is that it looks and sounds like a million bucks on Blu. In fact, I’d argue that it’s very nearly a different experience in high-bandwidth high-def. You can start over from the beginning with Lost: The Complete Series Blu-ray boxed set, pictured above – a comprehensive puzzle box filled with all 6 seasons worth of episodes along with scads of extras, collectibles and hidden secrets.
![Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Two [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51peqvX30HL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Two [Blu-ray]")
The CG Clone Wars series has been my guilty pleasure now for a couple of years. I record and save new episodes as they air, hoarding them for those perfect Saturday morning marathons. The Blu-ray collections of the series do one better than just slapping the show on disc. These beautiful high-def presentations allow the Clone Wars to be seen as it was meant to be – in its original aspect ratio, instead of the cropped-for-TV versions we see on The Cartoon Network. The newest collection, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Complete Season Two features all 22 episodes, “Jedi Temple Archives“, featurettes and a 64-page book.
READ MORE: Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Two Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Pillars of the Earth [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/61LnQZmm9sL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Pillars of the Earth [Blu-ray] (2010)")
The Pillars of the Earth is the perfect gift for that person in your life who loves their sword fights and royal intrigue laced with a hefty dose of melodrama. This is a quality production from producers Ridley and Tony Scott that both looks and sounds great on Blu-ray. You won’t find a lot of special features here but no matter. The play’s the thing.
READ MORE: The Pillars of the Earth Blu-ray Disc Review
![Futurama: Volume 5 [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51bwofXBAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Futurama: Volume 5 [Blu-ray]")
I admit to not keeping up with Futurama since its miraculous return but am excited to catch up when this new Blu-ray boxed set turns up on December 21st. The 2-disc set includes all 13 new episodes and features such as deleted and extended scenes, audio commentaries and featurettes.
![The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51R0zQ78dAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season [Blu-ray]")
Season 13 of The Simpsons marked the beginning of the shows return to form, after several seasons of less than spectacular episodes. Fans will definitely want to add this Blu-ray set to their collections for the exceptional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack as well as the substantial batch of extras (commentary tracks on every episode!!) Take note that the episodes were produced in SD so the video presentation is a high-def encoded up-convert and a pretty nice one at that.
![Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51xNZKCrLqL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas / It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) [Blu-ray]")
Warner has packaged the three individual releases of the Peanuts holiday specials together into one handy boxed set. That means, if you or your loved one don’t already own the Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving Blu-ray discs, you’re in luck because you can now get them all together at a lower price. The discs and special features are identical to the individual releases, each one presenting an additional animated special and a short featurette. This is not reference material high-def but a definite improvement over whats previously been available.
![Fringe: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51qzQmu0Z8L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Fringe: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
I think I can safely say, after watching two entire seasons of Fringe, that it’s hands-down the best genre show currently airing on TV. I actually held off watching season 2 for the entirety of the last year in anticipation of burning through it on Blu-ray. And burn I did!! The X-Files vibe takes even more of a back seat this season, in favour of furthering the story of agent Olivia Dunham, the Bishops and the secret experiments that tie them together. The episodes, once again look amazing on Blu. But, as they continued to do, WHV only serves up a compressed Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Ah well. Such a small disappointment in an otherwise amazing set. Special features include commentary on four episodes, a gag reel, a host of featurettes and more!
![Human Target: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51_EeO0swoL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Human Target: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2010)")
My girlfriend got me into The Human Target last year. I wasn’t interested for the longest time but finally gave in and boy am I ever glad I did. What a fantastic, fun series this has been. This collection of first season episodes are so spirited and packed with adventure and fun and danger and… well, everything you’d want from a TV show adapted from a comic book.
Christoper Chance is a bodyguard and security expert for hire. Along with his crack team of operatives, he integrates himself into his client’s lives in order to draw out the forces that threaten them. The Blu-ray transfers are nice, if not a bit compressed (12 episodes onto 2 discs!) with Warner’s typical DD 5.1 audio mix souring the milk slightly. Special features include commentary on the pilot, deleted scenes and a couple of featurettes.
![True Blood: The Complete Second Season (HBO Series) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51poP37pn9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "True Blood: The Complete Second Season (HBO Series) [Blu-ray]")
From my review of the boxed set:
“With a cast of great characters and compelling b-movie storylines, True Blood is just as silly, soap operatic and supernatural in its second season as it was in its first. Perhaps even more so! And that fun transfers in whole to this exceptional Complete Second Season Blu-ray set!”
This is another killer (pun intended!) Blu-ray boxed set from HBO. As is par for the course, all episodes look and sound fantastic. Outside of the excellent commentary tracks the supplemental material is fairly anemic. See what I did there? With the blood-thing? Urgh…
READ MORE: True Blood: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51rdiKVU7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg "The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
And hey, speaking of vampires, here’s another great series about TV and film-goers’ favourite bloodsuckers! I didn’t expect to like The Vampire Diaries at all. AT ALL! And yet, after watching this first season on Blu-ray I’m hooked. It’s one of the shows I never miss on TV now, week to week. All 22 episodes are present and accounted for, all looking amazing in their high-def debut. Again WHV cheaps out on the audio, delivering only compressed DD 5.1 tracks. Not to worry though, they actually sound pretty good. Special features include a commentary track, tons of featurettes, a downloadable audio book and tons more!
READ MORE: Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of August 31
![Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51M_3U4tRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Entourage has been another guilty pleasure for me for years. And this season, the sixth season feels like a climax of sorts. Despite the fact that the show has continued on into a seventh year, this Blu-ray boxed set collection gives a real sense of closure for the Hollywood escapades of movie star Vinnie Chase, manager Eric Murphy and all their pals by the time it ends. All 12 episodes look and sound better than they deserve, thanks to the wizards at HBO. Special features include commentaries, featurettes and a short film directed by Matt Damon!
![Hung: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51czZ71PJLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg "Hung: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
Thomas Jane stars in Hung as coach and “happiness consultant” (read: male hooker) Ray Drecker, doing what he does best with the gifts the good Lord has given him. Like, um…coaching sports and stuff. This half-hour drama is honestly a lot of fun but feels brief at a paltry 10-episodes. Collected in boxed set form, they just zoom by! The technical presentation isn’t quite up to HBO’s usual high standards but that doesn’t mean things look or sound grim here. The Blu-ray boxed set is, sadly a bit lite on the special features with a handful of commentary tracks being the most noteworthy.
TV SHOWS ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:
![Modern Family: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51koqMvtAxL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Modern Family: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
![Glee: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51ObtvHuGFL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Glee: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2010)")
![Mad Men: Season Three [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41QkDf_t8iL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Mad Men: Season Three [Blu-ray]")
![Dollhouse: Season Two [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/41CXCwqvNCL._AA300__150x150.jpg "Dollhouse: Season Two [Blu-ray] (2009)")
![Nurse Jackie: Season One [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51PlQvLm4iL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Nurse Jackie: Season One [Blu-ray] (2009)")
![The Office: Season Six [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51wbQeAFviL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "The Office: Season Six [Blu-ray] (2009)")
![Smallville: The Complete Ninth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51mMAmqVLOL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Smallville: The Complete Ninth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
![Supernatural: The Complete Fifth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/51D6z3XswIL._SL500_AA300__150x150.jpg "Supernatural: The Complete Fifth Season [Blu-ray] (2009)")
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
Related posts
]]>Tomorrow: TV on Blu-ray!
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR
If you follow The Blu-ray Blog at all, you’ll know of my deep, sincere love for pretty much everything that comes out of the Criterion Collection. It’s easy to be a fanboy when damn near every disc they release features a picture-perfect presentation and is packed to the gills with extras. But this seven film box set aptly named America Lost and Found: The BBS Story is really something special. The studio has gone above and beyond here, releasing their biggest and best Blu-ray boxed set to date. All the films from the famous (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show, The King of Marvin Gardens) to the less well know (Head, Drive He Said, A Safe Place) are handled with equal skill – each looking and sounding better than ever before and loaded with special features. Each film is housed in its own beautifully designed slipcase, complemented by the box packaging and the incredible 112-page illustrated book of essays on the films.
I can’t recommend this boxed set highly enough. It might very well be the release of the year.
The Alien Anthology Blu-ray set is such a beautiful thing. Nevermind that it includes all four of the original films, two of which (the two that really matter) look mind-blowingly good, but the set also includes more special features than you’ll probably ever be able watch and listen to unless you’re as obsessive-compulsive about the films you love as I am. After spending time with this 6-disc set (one for each film and two for extras) I almost feel like each individual component is worth the price of the box on its own. I’m particularly knocked out by the extremely candid and thorough documentaries included in the set. The Alien 3 piece is such a revelation it might just knock you on your ass. All six discs are housed in a hardcover book (the discs are slipped within very firm pages with nested trays) which slips into a shiny, creepy Alien box package.
Highest possible recommendation!!
READ MORE: Alien Anthology Blu-ray Boxed Set Officially Announced and Detailed
I’ve got two admissions to make here. The first is that I’ve never cared for The Sound of Music. The second is that this new Blu-ray edition of the film blew my mind and made me a fan. It’s true! Swear to God. The Sound of Music is, hands down, the best looking restoration of the year. Want to impress your friends with your home video setup? Got a couple of jerks in your circle of pals who insist that there’s no point in buying older films on Blu? Pop in The Sound of Music and make their eyes jump out of their heads. The edition you see pictured above is the full-on gift set, complete with soundtrack, books and goo-gahs. The film is also available in a simple 3-disc combo-pack (Amazon: $18.99.)
READ MORE: The Sound of Music: 45th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray officially announced and detailed
One Flew over the Cukoo’s Nest was previously released in a nice, hardcover digibook edition Blu-ray. Warner’s newest release of the film features a very similar presentation but extends the “making of” documentary. Sadly, the audio is still only presented in the compressed version found on the previous disc. Still, this is an amazing film in a beautiful box that contains playing cards, posters, character cards, pre-production correspondence and movie trivia.
AMAZON: $34.49
![Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray] (2004)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/harrypotter3bluray.jpg "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray] (2004)")
![Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray] (2005)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/harrypotter4bluray.jpg "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray] (2005)")
Oh. Em. Gee. Do you remember how I went off about the Harry Potter Ultimate Edition Box sets last year? Well, get ready for another barrage of praise, this time tempered with a hint of disappointment.
Both The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire get the full-on, Ultimate Edition Blu-ray treatment this year, joining the wonderful Philosopher Stone and Chamber of Secrets sets of 2009. Both films carry over their nearly-perfect high-def presentations and extras from previously issued discs while adding a host of brand new special features and collectibles all housed in magnetically latched box packaging. ‘The World of Harry Potter‘ 8-part documentary continues with parts three and four in these sets and is, once again nearly worth the price of purchase alone. The accompanying hardcover books are a nice compliment to each part of the doc. Missing from the Ultimate sets this time around are alternate cuts of the films (both directors have gone on record stating that the theatrical cuts are the only ones they care to present) and the picture-in-picture tracks.
READ MORE: New Harry Potter: Ultimate Edition Blu-ray sets announced for Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire
This toy box of Toy Story is a really great gift for those who haven’t picked up any of the individual Blu-ray releases from the series. It’s essentially just a bundling of the combo-pack discs from each film with nothing new added aside from the handsome box. So, if you’ve already got the 3-disc Toy Story and Toy Story 2 and the 4-disc Toy Story 3, there’s not much to see here. But if you’ve been holding out for whatever reason, or if you know someone who has, now is the time to dive in to the toy box!
![Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/BacktotheFuture25thAnniversaryTrilogy_25192049491_500_300x300.jpg "Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]")
I still haven’t managed to get my hands on the Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary boxed set but by all accounts this is one of the best Blu-ray releases of the year. I understand that the new high-def transfers are gorgeous and the 2-hours of brand new special features are worth watching. I’ve got this one on my list and hope to see it under the tree in a couple of weeks!
READ MORE: Back To The Future Trilogy Blu-ray Boxed Set Officially Announced
![Shrek: The Whole Story Boxed Set (Shrek / Shrek 2 / Shrek the Third / Shrek Forever After) [Blu-ray] (2010)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/shrek_the_whole_story_blu_ray_slice_02.jpg "Shrek: The Whole Story Boxed Set (Shrek / Shrek 2 / Shrek the Third / Shrek Forever After) [Blu-ray] (2010)")
I’m not personally a big fan of the Shrek films but my four-year old niece certainly is. This Shrek: The Whole Story Boxed Set is like a dream come true for her, packaging together all of the films with over 7-hours of special features.
![RoboCop Trilogy [Blu-ray]](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/DVEccs61xoJxHH_1_l_248x300.jpg "RoboCop Trilogy [Blu-ray]")
I’m a huge, unabashed fan of Robocop – the film, not the franchise. So, this boxed set is a bit of a bittersweet release. I was hoping for a better transfer of the first film and the special features from the 2-disc DVD set but alas, the set only features bare-bones editions of the films. It’s a great gift for fans of the character or the series as a whole, as this is the first time the sequels are available in high-def and they both look and sound pretty great.
READ MORE: Robocop Trilogy Blu-ray Disc Review
![The Goonies (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1985)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/the_goonies_25th_anniversary_collectors_edition_550x355.jpg "The Goonies (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1985)")
Here’s another set on my wish list this year – the Goonies: 25th Anniversary set comes jam-packed with a lot of collectibles I’m not interested (ok, maybe I’d play that Goonies board game once or twice over the holiday season) but I genuinely love this film and remain excited to see it in high-def.
READ MORE: Goonies: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray coming in November
![Apocalypse Now (Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition) (Apocalypse Now / Apocalypse Now Redux / Hearts of Darkness) [Blu-ray] (1979)](/wp_content/uploads/2010/12/apocnowblu2.jpg "Apocalypse Now (Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition) (Apocalypse Now / Apocalypse Now Redux / Hearts of Darkness) [Blu-ray] (1979)")
Oh boy. If Santa brings me anything this year, I hope it’s a stocking full of Apocalypse! I’ve been longing for this 3-disc deluxe ‘Full Disclosure Edition‘ set ever since we caught wind of it earlier this year and I swear, I’m buying it on boxing day if I don’t unwrap it the day before. It contains both cuts of Apocalypse Now, the Hearts of Darkness documentary and a crap-ton of special features. Drool drool drool…
READ MORE: Apocalypse Now, Hearts of Darkness doc coming to Blu-ray
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR